West Berkshire · London and the South East
Drone roof survey in Newtown Common, West Berkshire
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Newtown Common from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Ridge and hip pieces working loose
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Worn lead at chimneys and walls
About our drone roof survey in Newtown Common
We fly a sub-250g drone, and we are a CAA-registered drone operator, with a Flyer ID and an Operator ID. We keep it in sight throughout, and within the 120-metre limit that applies to all drones in the open category. Each flight is planned with the site and its surroundings in mind. Airspace and weather are checked before every flight. We never fly where it isn’t safe. Common reasons to book are chimney tops in poor condition and gaps where slates or tiles have gone, across valleys and parapet gutters, fragile roofs and chimney stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Newtown Common are listed or in a conservation area. A look from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof, so it’s a gentle way to see the condition of an old roof. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, so check with the council first.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Newtown Common (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £400 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, with the pre-flight checks included, and longer for big commercial roofs. Rural addresses near Newtown Common can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First, we check the address for flight restrictions.
- We arrange any permission that’s needed before we fly.
- Before the flight, we check the conditions and the take-off spot.
- The drone captures close-up photos of the coverings, chimneys, valleys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with close-up photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Also near Newtown Common
What else we do in Newtown Common
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Keep a clear space in the garden or drive for take-off
- Tell next door if the drone will be near their property
- Expect a little longer if permission is needed
- Shut pets inside while we fly
The Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation to talk through the photographs and findings. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
Every so often, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. A drone sees the outside, but the loft shows leaks and condensation from below. Photograph anything new.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Newtown Common
Close-up photos make conversations with roofers clearer. They show the location and extent of each defect, which helps when you ask for quotes. Outbuildings and barns around Newtown Common are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Prices that include VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- An independent look at the roof
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Do you need a drone roof survey in Newtown Common?
Height and steep pitches make close inspection risky. Tall townhouses, blocks of flats and offices are typical. We fly from the ground and bring the camera close to the roof.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Wind damage high on the roof
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Tired mortar and pots at the top of a stack
- Hidden gutters full of leaves
If you look after a building such as Horris Hill School, thermal images can show where wet insulation sits under a big flat roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- When you’ll get the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
FAQs for Newtown Common
Are there drone restrictions around Newtown Common?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Strong wind or a downpour also stops a small drone flying.
Is my home in Newtown Common listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What we look for on each type of roof
Steep slate and tile slopes
On slate roofs, slipped slates often point to corroded nails. Close-up photos show how widespread it is.
Flat roofs on tall buildings
The flat roof on top of a block is rarely looked at. From above, standing water, splits and tired upstands are clear.
Drone roof surveys around Newtown Common
We fly a sub-250g drone and are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). In the open category, flights stay below 120 m (400 ft) and within sight. Before any flight, we check the Drone Safety Map for airspace restrictions, including zones around airports and prisons.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary and St John the Baptist, thin or patchy insulation under an old roof often shows up clearly on a thermal image. Historic houses such as Highclere Castle, about 3.1 miles south-west, show how far back building around Newtown Common goes. Older roofs nearby can be steep and hard to see from ground level, and a survey from the air or with a thermal camera does not touch the roof itself.
Newtown Common is about 2 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Roofs in Newtown Common get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Berkshire. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for drone roof surveys: RG20. We also cover the places around Newtown Common: Burghclere Common (1 mile south), Earlstone Common (1 mile south), Sandleford (1 mile north-east), Wash Common (1 mile north-west) and Wash Water (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Thatcham (4 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles west), Calcot (13 miles north-east) and Lambourn (13 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Newtown Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near Park House School and Sandleford Priory, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Newbury station, about 2.2 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.1 miles east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.1 miles north-east). Open spaces near Newtown Common include Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.